DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions (4-5, 0-3) know what this game against the Green Bay Packers (6-3, 1-0) is all about.

Forget the clichés about each game being just as important as the next. Throw out all that stuff you hear about it is just another significant NFC North game. Do not let anyone tell you this is just one of many games occurring this weekend.

The meaning of this game is simplistic.

A victory means Detroit's slim playoffs hopes carry over one more week.

A loss means the Lions not only disappointed themselves, but a loyal fan base that entered this season with such high hopes.

"You hate to say must-win, but this is of the utmost importance to get this win, especially in our division," Lions receiver Calvin Johnson said. "You can't just stand by and expect they're going to come. You got to go and take it, and it starts on Sunday."

If Detroit does not claim a victory against Green Bay, the Lions would obtain frustrating season instead.

Detroit finished 10-6 and advanced to the playoffs in 2011. The Lions were expected to at least compete for a playoff spot this season.

Instead, Detroit finds itself in a fight to at least finish above .500 after struggling to play consistently throughout this season.

"When you're in the position we're in, you got to win," Lions center Dominic Raiola said. "We got to start winning games. We got to go on a little streak to make up for what we did in the first nine."

Detroit put itself in a hole after the first nine games.

The Lions will likely need to win six of their remaining seven games to finish 10-6 and hope for a possible playoff spot. Considering six of those seven teams are currently above .500 - Atlanta and Houston are 8-1 - Detroit has a very tough task ahead.

If you are looking for a silver lining, which could take a little effort, Detroit has played six of nine games on the road this season. Detroit has three consecutive games at Ford Field, which could help the Lions.

"It's a very important stretch, obviously, and it starts this week with Green Bay," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "It's the only one we can play this week, but after having six of the first nine on the road it is good to get back to Ford Field against quality opponents. It's going to be a very, very important stretch for us."

Green Bay knows Detroit is desperate for a win, and the Packers expect to receive the Lions' best shot on Sunday.

"I think any time you're playing a team that kind of has that type of mentality, the backs against the wall potential mentality ... we felt it early against Houston," Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. "We were 2-3 and going into a team that was 5-0 and playing really well and we knew we had to have a good performance and were able to You've got to factor that in. They're playing at home, their crowd's going to be into it, it's going to be loud. There's going to be a surge early in the game and we're going to have to play a four quarter game."

Detroit's home game stretch will be insignificant if the Lions lose on Sunday.

The meaning of this game is simplistic.

"It's a division game," Raiola said. "We got to win. What make me upset more is people are writing us off because of whatever, but the Saints are 4-5 and they're right in the hunt. How does that work out? I don't know. We're 4-5, too.

"It's just disrespectful. I feel like we got to prove it though. We got to start winning national TV games. We got to start winning big games. This is a big game. We got to start winning those to be talked about like the 4-5 Saints. They are 4-5 just like us. If we want to be talked about like that, we got to start winning games."